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R 101652Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
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INFO RUEHZK /ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 6361
RUE HRB / AMEMBAS S Y RABAT 7594
RUE HTRO /AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0004
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0325
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000033

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL : 01/10/2017
TAGS: KDEM MARR MASS PGOV PHUM MR

SUBJECT: MILITARY VIEWS ON ELECTIONS AND AFTERMATH
REF: 06 NOUAKCHOTT 1445 (NOTAL)

NOUAKCHOTT 00000033 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CHARLES H. TWINING FOR REASON 1.4 ( B , D

)

1I_1 . (C) Summary. Two high-level military officials express
concerns about civilian abilities to govern while listening
to our urging non-interference of the military in the
presidential elections just ahead. The armed forces intend
to focus on their own role and needs in the post-transition
period. End Summary.

V2 . (C) Introduction. Charge and DATT called on two key
military officials January 9 to reiterate the need for a
credible conclusion to the electoral process, including
non-interference by the military or other elements in the
presidential election, and to elicit views as to the role the
armed forces may be expected to play in the post-transition
phase under a civilian government. Our visits follow charges
that the ruling Military Council or elements of it are
interfering in the process by supporting a particular
candidate (ref tel).

11_3 . (C) Colonel Abderrahmane Ould Boubacar, Armed Forces Chief
of Staff and member of the Military Council, claimed the
military is staying away from politics and will maintain its
non-involvement in the electoral process. At the same time,
like President Vail he criticized the weakness of parties in
this country and the propensity of candidates to want the
highest office in government without having thought through,
or presented, the detailed programs that they will seek to
implement .

11_4 . (C) Charge acknowledged that both claims have some
validity and said we see the role of diplomats includes that
of helping focus the candidates on the need to have concrete
programs, including their vision of the future of the armed
forces. Continuing, Charge said he was concerned that there
is insufficient contact and dialogue existing between
military and civilians, which can produce misunderstandings
and suspicions. He hoped that channels could be opened to
encourage frank exchanges.

11_5 . (C) Colonel Boubacar, while again criticizing the
candidates for having more ambition than anything else, also
acknowledged that discussion between the two sides could be
useful. After so many years of military rule, he said, the
desire is not to turn over the government to civilian control
that has little understanding of the country's problems and
would make a mess out of things and be unable to deal with

threats to national security. This would only result in the
military retaking power. We agreed that that was not what we
wish to see, either. The new government emerging from the
elections has to be one capable of governing.

Vo. (C) As for the post-transition phase, Colonel Boubacar
said the armed forces have just started taking a hard look at
their overall posture, realizing that considerable work needs
to be done to make them modern and effective. That should be
the focus following the transition, using the military for
the purpose for which it is intended: to protect the national
borders and waters. Boubacar asked that the USG consider
expanding its own programs of military cooperation in the
post-transition period in this regard.

1.7 . (C) The Secretary General of the Ministry of National
Defense, Colonel Dia Elhadj Abderrahmane , while not a member
of the Military Council, nevertheless reports directly to
President Vail in the latter's capacity as Minister of
Defense and for this reason is an important interlocutor.

The Colonel insists that he does not get into politics, which
in his mind includes elections and civil-military relations.

He suggested that military personnel are well integrated into
civil society, as interested in democracy as anyone. As
evidence he cited the considerable amount of vote splitting
in areas where personnel voted.

1.8 . (C) While not wanting to comment on the need for dialogue,
Colonel Dia expressed concern that candidates for President
play by the rules and accept the final result. In that
connection, we observed that if all, including the military,
follow the rules and do not interfere in the process, we
would hope our own level of cooperation would rise after the
transition. He said that was his hope, as well. Dia added
that in the post-transition period the military intends to
assume its traditional role, which it has never forgotten,

NOUAKCHOTT 00000033 002.2 OF 002

and work to improve its capabilities to carry it out. He
acknowledged that the armed forces will be watching, however,
to make sure the new civilian government assumes its
responsibilities. Dia said Mauritanians know the world is
looking at their experiment with democracy that, if
successful, will help bring both stability to the region and
serve as a model to the Arab world.

1.9 . (C) Comment. It is clear that there is anxiety about the
future among military leaders such as these, and we wish we
could see both the military and civilians lay their cards on
the table and talk to one another frankly. We are not
particularly sanguine that this will occur, however, and it
is certainly possible that some officers are taking it upon
themselves to try to "arrange" things so that their future
interests, including a genuine interest in maintaining the
accomplishments of the Vail government, are preserved and
protected. In the final analysis, it is not clear the extent
to which "arrangements" made to elect the "right" candidate
will truly make a difference, particularly if the actual
balloting is done credibly. The Embassy will continue to
monitor the situation closely, as well as to urge greater
dialogue and debate.

Twining